Cooperative Federalism and Centre-State Legislative Relations
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC frequently tests the nuances of India's federal system, including the division of powers, mechanisms of Centre-State cooperation, and challenges in implementing policies across different levels of government, especially concerning subjects in the State List.
India's Constitution establishes a federal system with a clear division of powers between the Union and State governments, delineated by the Seventh Schedule. While States have exclusive legislative competence over subjects in the State List, the Union government often plays a facilitative role, promoting uniformity and best practices through recommendations and model legislations, embodying the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Facts & tables
- Seventh Schedule
- Divides legislative powers into Union, State, and Concurrent Lists.
- State List
- Subjects on which State legislatures have exclusive power to make laws (e.g., public order, police, local government, theatres).
- Cooperative Federalism
- A concept where the Centre and States collaborate to achieve common national goals, often involving the Centre providing guidance or model frameworks for State subjects.
- Model Legislations
- The Centre can prepare model laws or regulations on State subjects and recommend their adoption by States to ensure uniformity and address common challenges.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Indian Polity & Governance |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Information & Broadcasting | Initiates policy recommendations |
| State Governments | Adopts and implements regulations |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- India's federalism: division of powers via Seventh Schedule.
- State List subjects: exclusive legislative domain of States.
- Cooperative federalism: Centre-State collaboration for national goals.
- Model Regulations: Centre's tool to guide States on State List subjects.
- I&B Ministry's Model Cinema Regulations exemplify this.
Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2019 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
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Indian Polity & Governance
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2016
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
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Prelims 2019
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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I&B Ministry sets up panel to boost film industry
The I&B Ministry's initiative to provide Model State Cinema Regulations for a State List subject exemplifies cooperative federalism, where the Centre facilitates policy uniformity and growth in areas primarily under State jurisdiction.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2016–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
I&B Ministry sets up panel to boost film industry
The I&B Ministry's initiative to provide Model State Cinema Regulations for a State List subject exemplifies cooperative federalism, where the Centre facilitates policy uniformity and growth in areas primarily under State jurisdiction.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India:
I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule
II. Extent of the executive power of a State
III. Conditions of the Governor’s office
For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?
Statement I is Correct: Any change in the Union List alters the distribution of legislative powers and requires ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures. Statement II is Correct: Changes affecting the extent of a State’s executive power also need ratification by not less than one-half of the States. Statement III is Incorrect: Conditions of the Governor’s office can be amended by Parliament alone and do not require ratification by States.
The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -
As per Article 249 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament of India can legislate on a subject in the State List if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution stating that it is necessary in the national interest. This resolution must be approved by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. Once passed, this resolution empowers Parliament to make laws on the specified subject for a period of one year, which can be extended further by passing another resolution.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons.
Statement-II: In India, prisons are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894 which expressly kept the subject of prisons in the control of Provincial Governments.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
The Prisons Act 1894 is one of the oldest pieces of legislation in India dealing with laws enacted in relation to prisons in India. * Statement 1 is correct: Prison is a State subject under List-II of the Seventh Schedule in the Constitution. States have the primary role, responsibility, and power to change the current prison laws, rules, and regulations. Hence it is true that prisons are managed by the state governments with their own rules and regulations. * Statement 2 is correct: The management and administration of Prisons falls exclusively in the domain of the State Governments and is governed by the Prisons Act, of 1894 and the Prison Manuals of the respective State Governments. * Hence it is true that the Prisons Act of 1894 kept the subject of prisons in the Provincial government (State governments) and this explains why State governments have the power to frame their own rules and regulations regarding prison management.
With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements:
1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President.
2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block.
3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States.
How many of the above statements are correct?
* Statement 1 is correct: As per Article 244(1) of the Constitution's Fifth Schedule, Scheduled Areas are areas that the President may declare to be such by order after consultation with the Governor of that State. * Statement 2 is correct: District is considered as the largest administrative unit which forms the Scheduled Area while the lowest administrative unit is the cluster of villages in the Block. * Statement 3 is incorrect: The Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India states in para 3 that the Governor of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the Administration of the said areas.
Consider the following pairs:
State – Description
I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks.
II. Nagaland : The State came into existence on the basis of a Constitutional Amendment Act.
III. Tripura : Initially a Part 'C' State, it became a centrally administered territory with the reorganization of States in 1956 and later attained the status of a full-fledged State.
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
This question tests knowledge of historical and administrative facts about northeastern Indian states. ✅ Pair I: Arunachal Pradesh – Correct
* Itanagar, the capital, is named after Ita Fort.
* The state has two National Parks: Namdapha and Mouling. ✅ Pair II: Nagaland – Correct
* Nagaland attained statehood via a constitutional amendment and came into being on 1 December 1963 through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. ✅ Pair III: Tripura – Correct
* Tripura was a Part 'C' state, became a Union Territory in 1956, and was granted statehood in 1972.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule,
I. the State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration.
II. the Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
When an area is declared a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, it continues to be administered by the State Government, but with special powers granted to the Governor for tribal welfare. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect The State Government does not lose its executive powers. There is no provision for a local body to take over full administration. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect The Union Government cannot take over total administration of Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule, even on the Governor’s recommendation.
With reference to India, consider the following:
I. The Inter-State Council
II. The National Security Council
III. Zonal Councils
How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?
Among the listed bodies, only the Inter-State Council is established by the Constitution of India. The others are based on statutory or executive provisions. ✅ I. Inter-State Council – Correct
* Established under Article 263 of the Constitution to facilitate Centre-State coordination. ❌ II. National Security Council – Incorrect
* Formed in 1998 by an executive order, not mentioned in the Constitution. ❌ III. Zonal Councils – Incorrect
* Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, a statutory but non-constitutional body.
With reference to the management of minor minerals in India consider the following statements:
1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country.
2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: As per Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act, 1957, sand is classified as a ‘minor mineral’ along with other minerals such as gravel, clay, marble, and limestone. Statement 2 is incorrect: The power to make rules regarding the grant of minor minerals lies with State Governments, not the Central Government. Under Section 15 of the MMDR Act, State governments can frame rules related to the extraction, leasing, and transportation of minor minerals. However, the central government regulates major minerals like coal, iron ore, and bauxite. Statement 3 is correct: The MMDR Act empowers state governments to make rules to regulate the grant of mining leases and other mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals, which includes the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.